Re: Programming style
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg47608] Re: Programming style
- From: "Mark Westwood [EPCC]" <markw at epcc.ed.ac.uk>
- Date: Sun, 18 Apr 2004 04:15:04 -0400 (EDT)
- Organization: Edinburgh University
- References: <c5qj4q$fvh$1@smc.vnet.net>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Lorenzo Here's my five-pennyworth, I expect that many others in this newsgroup will chip in with their own strongly-held, entirely reasonable and mutually contradictory opinions: Yes, it is worth the effort to learn the Mathematica way of doing things, the 'functional' method as you put it, just as it is worth the effort to learn the object-oriented way when learning Java or Smalltalk etc. Their are two reasons for making the effort: 1) equivalent programs written in the functional style and the procedural style usually execute faster, in Mathematica, in the functional style; 2) functional programs are often shorter, easier to write and easier to understand than procedural programs - once you have enough experience of Mathematica that is; 3) writing functional-style programs is much more natural in Mathematica than writing procedural programs; when I try to write procedural programs in Mathematica I always feel that I am fighting against the system rather than with it. (OK, so that make's three reasons ...) In my second paragraph I place the word functional in quotation marks, I won't be surprised to read other answers to your enquiry which deny that Mathematica is a functional language - pure functional languages don't do assignment for instance. I think it's functional enough to be considered a functional language. But you should also make some effort to get your head around the concept of Mathematica as a term rewriting system, transforming expressions in one form into an equivalent (usually simpler) form. If the book you have is the one by Nancy Blachman then stick with it. I think it is the best introductory text for general purpose Mathematica. Once you've finished with it you will be ready to digest The Mathematica Book itself. good luck Mark lorenzo.keegan at handbag.com wrote: > Hello, > > I am an experienced computer programmer having used ADA, C, Visual Basic > etc. for years. > > Recently I bought the book "Mathematica - A Practical Approach", where different > styles of programming are discussed, namely > Functional programming versus Procedural programming. > > The book seems to suggest that most Scientist and "professional" Mathematica > users prefer the Functional programming approach. > > For years I have been working with the "Procedural" method. > > What are your feelings ? Is it worth the effort to learn the Functional > method ? Does it matter ? > > Thanks for your time > > Best Wishes > Laurence Keegan >
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